E.—7a

6

is a Chair of Geology in Otago, and a lecturership in Canterbury and Victoria Colleges ; in Auckland, as has been stated above, it is associated with botany and zoology. There should be at least one lecturer "3t a-substantial salary in each college. As soon as the numbers warrant it, there should be a demonstrator in mineralogy and petrology who might also assist in the geological field-work. Education. The lectures in education are given in each case by the Principal of the Training College, who in Otago has received the rank of professor. If an advanced or honours course were recognized by the University there should be not less than two lecturers in each college, or a lecturer and a professor. Military Science. This is one of the optional subjects for the B.A. and B.Sc, but at present no instruction therein is given in any of the New Zealand colleges or in Melbourne or Adelaide. The University of Sydney has a Director of Military Science and four lecturers. Home Science. This department is found at present only in the University of Otago, and the staff consists of one professor and one lecturer. There should also be a chief demonstrator of the practical work in cookery, and other applied branches of the science, and, as the number of students increases, junior demonstrators for the science laboratories. Architecture. The University has just established a degree in architecture, the course for which contains many subjects that are identical or nearly so with corresponding subjects in the engineering courses. Accordingly, if a course in architecture were provided at the Canterbury College School of Engineering, the additional requirements would probably be met by the appointment of two senior lecturers under the control of the Professor of Engineering. If a department of architecture were established in any other college, the minimum staff required would probably be one Professor of Architecture (in charge), two senior lecturers and one or two junior lecturers. Engineering. There are some classes in engineering subjects (mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering) at Auckland University College : the staff consists of two qualified lecturers, but both staff and equipment are too small for a school of engineering. The staff of the engineering department of Canterbury College includes one professor, four senior lecturers or chief demonstrators, and four other demonstrators or assistants. Considering the coniparatively small number of students (less than thirty taking the degree and diploma courses) it does not seem advisable to increase this staff at present, unless architecture is added to the courses already taken : in that case the additions suggested above should be made. Mining and Metallurgy. Excluding the professor of geology, who is classed for the purpose of this list among the staff of the science department, there are two professors and one assistant. There are thirteen or fourteen students. Probably a staff of one professor of mining (in charge), one senior lecturer on metallurgy and assaying, and one assistant would be sufficient. Medicine and Surgery. Otago University : There are eighteen persons on the staff, most of whom are medical men engaged in the practice of their profession in Dunedin : eight of the staff are classified as professors. It is suggested that the staff should be increased by three, and that some of the salaries should be higher than they are. Both suggestions appear to be reasonable, and if they were adopted this important school of medicine might be considered to be appropriately staffed by three full-time professors (including a Professor of Physiology), twelve part-time professors, assistant professors, and senior lecturers, and six junior lecturers and assistants. Dentistry. ""1 The present staff at the Otago Dental School consists of a professor, an instructor in mechanical dentistry, and visiting anaesthetists. The present arrangement as to the latter is not considered satisfactory, and it is proposed to appoint one regular anaesthetist—which seems to be reasonable. With the growth of the school other lecturers and demonstrators would be required : one of these might occupy a position similar to that of a house surgeon in an ordinary hospital—that is, a suitable man might be found to take the position at a moderate salary for the sake of the experience. Other lecturers, if required, might be engaged on similar terms to those on which medical men in practice are engaged in the Medical School. General, Special, and Professional Courses. It is necessary now to arrive at some conclusion as to what courses of study should be provided at each of the four affiliated institutions of the University. It has been said that it was a mistake to establish four University Colleges in New Zealand ; that one central University should have been set up, as in Sydney for New South Wales, and in Melbourne for Victoria. To say this is, in my opinion, to overlook the difference between the geographical conditions of the Dominion and those of the two Australian States referred to. If there were only one University College in New Zealand, the people of the city and district in which it was situated would